The fall has never been my favorite season (which makes naming my first child Autumn seem sort of strange). While it's a beautiful time as the leaves change colors, it doesn't last that long. After the leaves fall, things seem to go colorless as temperatures drop and the daylight hours become less and less.I have usually get a little case of the blues as the year winds down and winter looms.
This fall, however, has been a little different.
October was a beautiful month. For starters, the weather is been unseasonably nice. And, despite a lack of rain, the fall foliage has been super and longer-lasting.
Add it all up and I've had some really nice drives this fall heading to and from speaking engagement at area churches. Areas of Northeast KY (Rowan, Carter, Boyd, Fleming and Lewis Counties) and West VA were especially picturesque.
October speaking opportunities included the following:
- Preaching for fall revival at Stoney Creek Christian Church (Carlisle, KY) - My good friend, Bobby Cairell, is preaching at this Nicholas County church and doing a really fine job. We had a good number out of the revival. I preached on Saturday night on renewing a commitment on evangelism and reaching the lost.
- Visiting Leesburg (KY) Christian Church - Sam Harris (my former preacher at Gardenside Christian Church) has been there as preacher since 2002. When he arrived, the church was running about 30 people (on a good day). Now, six years later, the church has nearly 400 people coming to four weekend services! The church is looking to go into a building program. God is doing some great things at this "turnaround" church.
- Speaking at Quincy (KY) Church of Christ - a group from Quincy is interested in doing a mission trip with us in 2009. A group led by David Lucas (youth minister) is considering going to an area in the Gulf South to help with post-hurricane recovery and rebuilding.
- Speaking at Farmdale Church of Christ (Barboursville, WV) - John Swanson (TM Board Mbr) had me up to give the congregation and update on Teen Mission. Farmdale has sent mission teams with us for the past 4-5 years.
The fall is also a time where we focus a little more on fundraising and development as money is in short supply at TM every fall. So far this fall, banquets have been held @ Gardenside Christian Church (Lexington, KY) on October 23rd and @ Gateway Church of Christ (St Albans, WV) on November 1st. Our final banquet of the year will be tonight (November 6th) @ New Life Church of Christ (Flemingsburg, KY). The banquets have been a wonderful time of celebration, food and fellowship. We say THANKS again to all those who have helped make them a big success.
This fall, we added a Fall Festival to our list of projects going on in Owsley County (Booneville, KY). The first-ever Fall Festival held on Saturday, October 25th went extremely well. You can read more about it in yesterday's post.Our 4th Annual Appalachian Christmas Project will be held December 12-14, 2008. We'll hold Christmas parties, giving presents to children and food baskets to families in need. We've had a lot of feedback on people interested in helping out with this project. There's still room for you; contact us if you'd like to take part in this great program!
Work on the 2009 Mission Journeys is starting to pick up. The 2009 Mission Journey newsletter has been printed and was mailed to over 7,000 churches and individuals in mid-October.
Please continue to pray for us as we try and finish 2008 on a strong note. THANKS again and may God continue to bless!
In Him,
Greg Herriford
Associate Director/Teen Mission, USA
Email = gregh@teenmission.org
Web http://www.teenmission.org/
